Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Gen. and Mrs. Tom Thumb's Wedding

Thursday

Jan 24, 2013 at 11:52 AM

MIDDLEBORO — On Feb. 10, 1863, Middleboro's Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump married General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) in New York City in what was called "The Fairy Wedding." The couple was so popular that only those with special invitations could attend the church ceremony followed by a reception for 2,000 guests. The wedding picture of this famous couple made the front page of newspapers.

MIDDLEBORO — On Feb. 10, 1863, Middleboro's Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump married General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) in New York City in what was called "The Fairy Wedding." The couple was so popular that only those with special invitations could attend the church ceremony followed by a reception for 2,000 guests. The wedding picture of this famous couple made the front page of newspapers.

One hundred fifty years later, the Middleborough Historical Association will have a special anniversary celebration to mark the event, to be held on Feb. 10. This will be held in the downstairs activity room of the Middleboro Public Library from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

On display will be special artifacts and pictures from the MHA collection pertaining to the wedding. At 2 p.m. Daniel Thompson and Dorothy Thayer will provide a multi-media presentation of the couple's courtship, wedding, reception and wedding trip. The event is free to the public.

Refreshments will be served. Saleable items and books will also be available.

The Middleborough Historical Museum, which is operated by the MHA and is open to the public during the summer months and by appointment, houses a substantial collection of items that belonged to the famous couple and later to Lavinia and her second husband, Count Magri. The couple's home, which is privately owned, still stands on Plymouth Street opposite Lavinia's birthplace.